Bare steel benchtop protection recommendations?

[Hot Chop shop]

I know this topic has been discussed in a few threads on metal bench tops... So sorry in advance...

I live in Las Vegas, it's a dry heat when it's 120 degrees here and not too much humidity to deal with... But when I picked up my new bench top from the steel shop that did some bends for me. When they were done they left it outside on the one day we get rain... It was a huge pain to get the rust off... I know the good old flap disc would have taken if right off but I am new to the fabrication world so I was nervous to take too much metal off the top and also to keep such a large area flat... So hours later after using a steel wool pad and a light wet sand the rust is gone, a few stains remain but just glad it's done...

Ok so now to my question... I don't want to deal with that again so has anyone tried any of these products below ? Or recommend a product? I read that some people just wax it or use a rag with Wd40 and wipe it down once in a while... But thought I would ask the smart kids what they would do?

http://www.permalac.com/html/PermalacProducts.html

http://store.cyberweld.com/prziricogasp.html#pdItemDataTabs

Also should I hit the under side of the bench top with something as well, I doubt anything would get under there but thought it was worth asking.

Thanks in advance.



Before pic

 

[Hot Chop shop]

After a day of scrubbing.

 

[ringneck]

Boeshield is my favorite these days, before that just good old fashioned Johnson's wax

 

[Thumper68]

This>>>> http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=2072&site=ROCKLER

Have used it for years on all my steel and cast iron tools.

I just clean the top with spray on orange cleaner and a scotch bright pad, buff dry and apply and buff it out.

 

[Steevo]

+1 for Boeshield, if you need something on the surface.

I would have refused delivery of the rusty top and had them make me a new one.

By the way, nice bench setup! That looks great.

I especially like the bottle opener.

 

[goodboy]

When I has my tops bent I used vinegar to strip the scale a d rust off.. Just used a spray bottle and kept them wet with vinegar for the day.

I agree something has to be put on them...

 

[1/2 Cup]

I just wipe mine down weekly (plain 14# steel) with kerosene then spray and wipe with CRC, with great results.
Boeshield would be ok as well.

 

[Clik]

Car shops use WD 40 to keep bare steel from flash rusting.

 

[sandsquirt]

We always used good old ATF to keep the rust away. If you have stains or rust you can just scrub with Scotch Brite pad and ATF.

 

[Wood'nMetal]

WD40 or Johnsons on the cheap. Boeshield on the spendy side.

If you don't use it too rough or too often, spray with rattle can clear lacquer

 

[keelan]

I use paste wax on cast iron machine tables, and it is great for preventing rust.

 

[JasonJ]

I dont have an answer to your question but... what steel shop did you use? I'm in Vegas as well and maybe be looking for a top similar to yours soon.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I used some WD40 on my table saw top. I just rubbed it in and kept wiping it down till it was clean to a sheet of white paper.

 

[Hot Chop shop]

Thanks for all the feedback! Amazon prime had boesheild so we'll see how that works and take it from there.

I dont have an answer to your question but... what steel shop did you use? I'm in Vegas as well and maybe be looking for a top similar to yours soon.

Curtis steel... I usually just buy from the scrap piles they have out back to play around with while learning to weld.

+1 for Boeshield, if you need something on the surface.

I would have refused delivery of the rusty top and had them make me a new one.

By the way, nice bench setup! That looks great.

I especially like the bottle opener.

I should have refused it but I thought it would wipe right off (not hours of scrubbing) ... And I was kind of super excited to finally finish my bench.
Thanks for the compliments I stole the plans from a thread around here... Let you do all the hard work coming up with the design then I added the bottle opener

 

[McKay]

I used a cheap $5 bottle of Gun Blue. Works great and I like the finished look of the surface.

 

[chadman]

I just clean mine periodically with WD-40. It is usually ready for a wipe down long before it starts to rust. I don't think you will have much trouble in Vegas keepeing it nice.

 

[zkling]

+1 for good old johnson paste wax. Put it on hot, let it cool and then buff it out. I use it on all non precision machine surfaced. Table saw, jointer, drill press, even the welding table. I'm not a fan of the boesheild for working machines. For things going into storage yea, a thick coat is great, but for working surfaces it just seems too sticky/gummy to me. My 2¢

 

[BigRed390]

I use paste wax on cast iron machine tables, and it is great for preventing rust.

^What keelan said. Cheap, works great, easy to apply.

 

[csp]

In Las Vegas you shouldn't need anything as long as you don't spray or spill water on it.

I built my welding table a year ago and it's still rust free with nothing on it other than **** I've stored on it.